Instructions
Choose a confined room to introduce your cat to the dog. Allow ample space and an escape route for your cat to run and hide should it feel threatened. Be sure to stay calm as pets have a way to tune in to your feelings. Speak in a soft voice to make both animals feel at ease.
Be prepared to reward good behavior with a lot of praise and treats. Do not force the cat on the dog -- allow them to greet each other at their own pace.
Limit greeting time between the cat and the dog to five-minute sessions several times a day. You may need to keep your dog on a leash so it does not attempt to chase or corner the cat.
Try putting your cat in a separate room with a baby gate in the doorway and the cat's food, toys and litter box within easy reach. Place the dog in the adjoining room with food, toys and a bed. Allow both animals to see and get accustomed to each other at their own pace without physical contact.
Repeat the process of introducing the pets in the same room again once they seem to be settling in without aggression. There is no guarantee that the cat and dog will become best of friends -- but they may be able to live comfortably in the same home.
How to Train Cats to Get Along With Dogs
The notion that cats and dogs always fight and cannot get along is not always the truth. Dogs and cats that have been raised together as kitten and puppy can become the best of friends. But a cat that has been in the home first can also adjust to a new canine family member.